Canby's Mountain Lover

Canby's Mountain Lover, or Paxistima canbyi, is a hardy evergreen ground cover. The shiny foliage is dark green and narrow and features prickly, toothed edges. While this plant blooms, the flowers are not very showy. The foliage turns a deep, bronzy hue during the fall. This hardy plant can live in coastal environments or challenging conditions and thrives with little care. Canby's Mountain Lover is a North American native. The dense, spreading growth habit makes this evergreen an excellent ground cover. Plant several nearby to create a lush green carpet of foliage. Use Canby's Mountain Lover to prevent erosion and stabilize embankments. This hardy shrub is deer resistant for added convenience. Canby's Mountain Lover is a broadleaf evergreen that grows in zones 3 through 8. Canby's Mountain Lover Care Give this shrub full to partial sun for best performance. Morning sun and afternoon shade are ideal. Plant it in rich, acidic soil that allows drainage, although Canby's Mountain Lover can tolerate alkaline and rocky soils. Regularly water new plants to support growth. Established plants will benefit from water during a dry spell. This ground cover is not a heavy feeder, but an annual application of a balanced fertilizer each spring will set it up for success. Canby's Mountain Lover has an excellent organic shape, so pruning is not often necessary. Remove dead or damaged growth when needed. Remove root suckers to direct energy into the main plant. Canby's Mountain Lover Spacing Canby's Mountain Lover reaches 8 to 12 inches tall but spreads 2 to 3 feet wide. Create a full carpet of foliage by spacing plants 2 feet apart.